Hurkacz too hot for Popyrin

Hubert Hurkacz began his Indian Wells campaign with a 6-1, 7-5 victory against Aussie Alexei Popyrin.

The 24-year-old Pole cruised through the first set before being broken for the first time when serving for the match at 5-4 in the second.

He maintained composure to win the next two games and advance.

Hurkacz will next take on American Frances Tiafoe, who dispatched compatriot Sebastian Korda 6-0 6-4.

Canadian Vasek Pospisil was forced to retire in the first set against Denis Shapovalov, while Norwegian Casper Ruud beat Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1 6-2.

Aslan Karatsev was too good for Italian Salvatore Caruso, winning in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, and South African Lloyd Harris saw off the challenge of Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokinas 6-3, 6-3.

Others to advance to the round of 32 were the seeded trio of Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat Uruguyan Guido Pella 7-5, 6-3 and Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated German Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-2.